This instructable is to show you how to make a simple, small, and sensitive microphone for around $13. Look at the video for an overview.

Step 1: The Schematic and Parts

This is a common -emitter preamp. It does it's job well, and you can plug headphones right into it without needing a separate amplifier. You will need:

2 10k resistors
1 100k resistor
1 electret condenser microphone (Click here to get it at Radioshack)
2 0.1uf capacitors
1 AG12 4 battery coin cell holder
-jacks and connectors that will help you connect your microphone to an external speaker

The schematic is pretty straightforward. The electret microphone, as seen in one of the pictures, has 3 small solder joints that connect one of the points to the outside casing. This is the negative lead. If you happen to find a 2SC6067 transistor, congratulations! If not, use any small NPN transistor. Keep the board and parts as small as possible. You can remove the battery holder off of a dollar store burglar alarm, which is what I did. If you do decide to use an Altoids tin, make sure to clean off burrs after drilling holes to avoid cutting yourself. Also, put some tape on the inside of the Altoids tin to prevent shorting.

Go ahead and solder!

Step 2: Prepare the Cables

If you wish to do the same as me with the RCA cables, you will have to do a bit of work. First, desolder the female jacks from the back of a television.

Next, hook up the female jacks to a 1/4 inch jack, an 1/8 inch jack, and to the output of your microphone.

Step 3: Test It Out!

Plug your microphone into the female RCA of the 1/4 inch jack via male RCA, then connect the 1/4 inch to your guitar amp. Keep the volume low and turn it up until you hear feedback. Keep the microphone 3 feet away from your amplifier. Then flip the switch and talk into it!

Step 4: Going Further

I attached a 1/8 inch jack to my female RCA and hooked it up to a computer. I could record sound through a program called Audacity. This device is very useful for a number of different applications.